Attachment for phonograph sound-boxes.



A. E. BURRUSS. ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPH SOUND BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11. \98.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

ALBERT E. BURRUSS, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPH SOUND-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 11, 1918. Serial No. 262,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. BURnUss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of llorfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Phonograph Sound-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for phonograph sound boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the vibrations of the diaphragm of phonographs may be regulated to cause the sound emitted to be of varying strengths and consequently to be loud or soft, as desired.

Further objects and advantages will be more fully described herein and specifically pointed out in the annexed claim recourse being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the sound box.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side View of the regulating lever and Figs. 4 and 5 are part sections of the front portion of the sound box taken on the line A in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawing like reference numerals indicate similar parts in all the several views.

1'is the front portion or ring of the sound box having a knurled portion 2 and a back portion 3, as shown.

4 is the sound box tube which connects to a certain goose neck (not shown) for directing the sound where desired in the customarymanner.

5 is the front or fiange of the sound box within which the diaphragm 6 is positioned.

8 is the stylus 0r transmitter bar secured at its upper end to the diaphragm at 7.

The lower end of the bar 8 is adapted to transmit vibrations to the needle or stylus 10 held in the socket 9 by the set screw 11. 12 is a section of a portion of a disk record which contains the indentations for producing corresponding vibrations of the diaphragm 6 by means of the needle or stylus and therefore the resulting audible effects.

13 is an angular or L shaped detachable bracket held upon the rim of the sound box 1, by means of the screw 13, (Figs. 1 and 2) andsupports the regulating lever which is made of two thicknesses so that the part 14 is thickest While that at 14* is thin.

In this manner the lever itself acts as a. spring to enable it to press firmly, more or less. upon the diaphragm 6, as will be described hereafter.

The lever is provided with a drop or offset 14", Fig. 3, so that the part 14 may be lower than the portion 1-1, as shown.

The lever is supported for movement at or near its middle portion by means'of the pivot screw 15 which may also pass throughthe sound box front. 5 to provide a double fastening for the bracket 13 or it may be only pivoted to the bracket and not pass through the same, as desired' At the inner end of the regulating lever,

and therefore, at the end of the thin portion 14 there is placed a felt pad or foot 17 upon a small plate 18. Fig. 3, the object of which is to act as a means for regulating the degree of amplitude of the diaphragm 6.

When the pad 17 is near the center of the diaphragm all vibrations cease but as the level 14 approaches the flange 5 of the sound box, and consequently away from itscenter, the vibrations increase so that differout degrees of strength of the sound are at tained and therefore it is loud or soft and various degrees of force between the limits mentioned. The usual practice for reducing the strength of the sound emitted by a phonograph is to provide a block which moves across the outlet of the sound tube or goose neck but this method gives a smothcred sound and not a regulation of the diaphragm vibrations.

In order to have the sound at its maxi mum strength, I provide a V shaped tongue or lifter plate 16 placed at right angles to or forming a part of the lever 14*.

When the lever is moved to the extreme right to the inner edge of the sound box front 5, the inclined lateral end of the lifter tongue 16 rides over the edge and therefore lifts the pad 17 from the diaphragm and has no dampening effect upon it.

hen the lever is moved to the left the tongue 16 slips off the rim or flange 5 and the ad 17 a ain exerts a )ressure u on the Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

placed upon any phonograph or talking machine and maybe readily operated without disturbing the needle or stylus while upon a rotating disk or cylinder record.

I claim: 7 I

A device of the class described and in combin'ation with the sound box and diaphragm ofa phonograph, of a bracket adapted to be fastened to the rim of the sound box and provided with a pivoted le- 10 er having an angular lateral projection thereupon near one end for engaging said rim to lift one extremity of the lever upaffixed my signature in the presence of two 15 witnesses.

ALBERT E. BURRUSS.

Witnesses Y WALTER B. Bmmow. W. J. CAssmY. 

